CBI files 18 FIRs, 4 against Robert Vadra's firm, for Rajasthan land deals

Among the 18 FIRs registered by the agency, 16 were registered at Gajner police station while two were registered in Kolayat police station in Bikaner between August and September, 2014TNN | August 31, 2017, 07:57 IST

Robert Vadra (File photo)NEW DELHI/JAIPUR: A week after Rajasthan government recommended a CBI probe into land deals in Bikaner in which some companies allegedly linked to Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra are under scanner, the central anti-corruption probe agency on Wednesday filed 18 FIRs and initiated an investigation.

A CBI spokesperson said that “the 18 cases re-registered after taking over from Rajasthan government pertain to fraudulent and fictitious claims and allotments in lieu of land acquired for Mahajan field firing range Bikaner which is used by the Army”.

Among the 18 FIRs registered by the agency, 16 were registered at Gajner police station while two were registered in Kolayat police station in Bikaner between August and September, 2014.

Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria said four FIRs are related to Sky Light Hospitality, allegedly linked with Vadra. “As many as 18 FIRs are registered and four of them are against Vadra’s company which was allegedly involved in illegal purchase of nearly 275 bigha land.

All the 18 FIRs are in connection with purchase of close to 1,400 bigha land in fake names,” Kataria had said on August 22 after referring the matter to CBI.

He had alleged that Vadra’s company was third party to purchase 275 bigha land in the year 2010 and it sold the pieces of land to fourth party in 2012. Reacting to CBI probe, state Congress chief Sachin Pilot had said, “BJP misuses CBI, ED and other agencies for political gains.”

The state government had on December 31, 2014 cancelled 18 mutations (transfer of ownership) in Bikaner after allegedly finding them to be illegal.

It was alleged that the land was illegally allotted or possessed in 2006-07 by some villagers, who were “wrongfully” shown as farmers displaced by acquisition of land for Mahajan Field Firing Range of the Army.

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